Israel offers Croatia mixed fleet of F-16s

Israel's defence ministry is offering to supply Croatia with a mix of 12 second-hand Lockheed Martin F-16s, facing competition from Saab Gripens being promoted by Sweden.

Current Israeli air force F-16C/Ds are now being offered, with the service to retire some of its examples as more Lockheed F-35I Adirs enter use. The Israeli proposal also could include a mix of C/D-model aircraft and already-retired F-16A/Bs which it has previously pitched to the Croatian government.

Flight Fleets Analyzer records the Israeli air force as currently operating 78 single-seat F-16Cs and 48 D-model trainers. In 2014, a fleet-wide "Barak 2020" upgrade was completed, with the activity having included structural treatments, replacement head-up displays and the provision of a new digital debriefing system.

Modernisation work was performed at the squadron level, under the supervision of the air force's main technical unit number 22, its central maintenance depot.

To support the potential export of surplus F-16A/Bs, Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries have previously designed an upgrade package for the retired "Netz" fleet.